AFCPE Member Awards: The Setting the Standard Award
The AFCPE “Setting the Standard” Award is an opportunity to recognize organizations that have made significant efforts and commitment to the high standards of professionalism that AFCPE has established – organizations that believe in and value the highest standards in best practices; ethical behavior; diverse, ethical, and inclusive communities; personal finance education; career advancement; information sharing; professionalism; and rigorous certification. Congratulations to our 2025 recipient, The Financial Therapy Clinical Institute (FTCI).
Celebrating Our Setting the Standard Award Winners
2025: The Financial Therapy Clinical Institute (FTCI)
FTCI is the compassionate home for financial healing. We recognize the inherent emotional experience in money and honor the real impact money has on our lives. We create financial healing through a collaborative team of financial therapists, counselors, and planners to help address the psychological barriers, relational challenges, structural needs, and numerical realities that are all part of the financial experience.
We provide the training and skills that financial and mental health professionals need to help their own clients heal. We believe firmly that professionals with the skills and heart to see money holistically can make a difference for their clients. We accomplish this through both on-demand and live training to help professionals do their best work.
FTCI also values the progression of financial therapy as a field and believes research to be a key part of that progression. We use research to advance the field forward with clinical and longitudinal data.
2024: Compass Working Capital
Compass Working Capital is transforming financial security for families in federally subsidized housing through its innovative Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. As the first nonprofit to deliver an asset-building model for FSS, Compass combines savings incentives with financial coaching to help families achieve lasting financial stability. Committed to excellence, Compass invests in AFCPE training and certification for its coaching staff and prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion to create equitable spaces for clients and strengthen the national network of FSS practitioners.
2023: Sage Financial Solutions
Sage Financial Solutions is a longtime partner and a leader in financial coach training and professional development in ways that meet the real-world needs of inclusive communities. Our organizations first partnered as certification and training partners for the CFPB Financial Coaching Initiative in 2015, and we continue to work together to ensure that all people have access to the highest quality financial coaching, counseling, and education.
2022: FINRA Investor Education Foundation
The FINRA Investor Education Foundation is recognized for their ongoing efforts and partnership to increase financial readiness in the military community. This year we are proud to recognize FINRA Foundation for their ongoing efforts and partnership to increase financial readiness in the military community. The FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship program has made an incredible impact over the last 17 years – not only for the financial wellbeing of the military community, but also in the lives of the military spouses who have had the opportunity to earn their AFC. Additionally, they support military financial educators through FINRA Foundation-sponsored continuing education programming.
2021: National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE)
NEFE is a longtime partner and supporter of AFCPE. NEFE is recognized for their commitment to providing AFC certification scholarships for people of color. This year we are proud to recognize NEFE for their longtime support of AFCPE, and their commitment to providing AFC® certification scholarships for people of color. NEFE’s work embodies AFCPE’s mission and vision, to ensure that all people, regardless of income or background, have the opportunity to achieve lasting financial well-being. Their generosity is helping to build capacity directly within communities – for financial professional, their clients, and the communities that they serve.
2019: North Carolina State Employees Credit Union (NCSECU)
In 2015, NCSECU enrolled their first round of employees in the AFC certification program. Today, more than 1,000 SECU employees hold the AFC designation. The AFC was part of SECU’s plan to create a more formalized and consistent financial counseling approach, which involves a comprehensive process of assessment, education, and guidance to help their members employ strategies to take control of their finances.
Their commitment to certify their financial professionals speaks volumes to the Credit Union’s desire for excellence in providing a higher level of service that will help their members reach financial success. It represents a standard of quality that we hope to see more financial institutions provide to the consumers that they serve.
2018: Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB)
The CFPB has demonstrated this commitment through the innovative national Financial Coaching Initiative. The program trained sixty (60) professionals to become AFC® (Accredited Financial Counselor®) and FFC® (Financial Fitness Coach) professionals, with ongoing professional development support. The Financial Coaches were then placed in sites across the country to focus on serving veterans and economically vulnerable communities.
Because of the focus on high standards and consistency in professional training and delivery, the program data has shown tremendous results with 84% of active clients saw improvements in their financial situation, including enhanced money management, increased savings, lowered debt levels, and improved credit scores. Additionally, an astounding 93% of clients have either established, made progress on, or completed their goals.
Our Members Set Standards That Shape Lives. You Can, Too. Join AFCPE.
Becoming an AFCPE member means joining a thriving professional community — and gaining access to awards, grants, and opportunities to advance your career.
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